Many unsuspecting senior citizens of the North and Northwest Houston area will be receiving Christmas gifts this year to much of their surprise.

Through their annual “Be a Santa to a Senior” program, Home Instead Senior Care Center provides Christmas gifts for senior citizens who may be forgotten during the busy holiday season. Cara Delgado, Owner of Home Instead Senior Care in Northwest Houston, says seniors who receive gifts are determined through a series of factors.

“Be a Santa to a Senior program is a national Home Instead Senior Care trademarked name. This is happening in every office in some variation. There are two criteria to be adopted. One is to be socially isolated, meaning they have no family and would not be likely to get a gift. The second criteria is to be financially needy.”

Home Instead is an in-home, non-medical caretaker assistance company. They provide service to any senior who may need assistance whether they live alone, in a nursing home or with family.

“We basically do in-home, non-medical assistance care,” said Delgado. “We can help with bathing, dressing, toileting, meal preparation, medication reminders, transportation and errands to and from doctors, grocery store and events.”

There are more than 1,000 offices across the world and each one participates in the program. Home Instead of Northwest Houston partners with Catholic Charities, who provides names and information of seniors, and local YMCA’s where these seniors can be adopted for holiday gifts. The names and suggested gift items of seniors are written on paper ornaments and hung on Christmas trees in the lobbies of YMCA locations Lake Houston, Brenda and John Duncan, and Langham Creek.

Once seniors have been adopted, their gifts are purchased and delivered to Home Instead offices. The gifts donated range in variety from coloring books, puzzles, gloves, toiletry items and more. An in-office “wrap party” is planned for community members, employees and volunteers to come out and help wrap the dozens of gifts that have been donated. At the Home Instead Northwest office wrap party, one volunteer, Perla Quintana, shares she enjoys serving her community.

“This is my first time doing this and I just like doing charity work. A lot of the seniors don’t have family that comes visit them during Christmas so this gets them really excited to have something to open during the holidays.”

Once all of the gifts have been wrapped and prepared, Catholic Charities comes to pick up the gifts and delivers the gifts to the senior citizen. Fred Thurmond is a client of Home Instead and was brought to the wrap party by his Home Instead caretaker. He believes having an event such as this really brings holiday cheer.

“This is the first year I’ve participated in it so I think it’s a very nice thing to do.”

“Be a Santa to a Senior” is a program that gives back to those who have served the community and lived a wonderful life, but may have been neglected when it comes to family and companionship. Cara Delgado says it’s nice to give to the other end of the age spectrum during the holidays to let them know they are still very much appreciated.

“Everybody remembers children this time of year, so it’s nice to remember the seniors.”

Home Instead will continue to accept gifts and donations through Christmas for senior citizens. For more information on Home Instead Senior Care , visit www.homeinstead.com/232.